HOME & FAMILY

Dance happens to be a Jewish form of expression. A famous Admor once said that the greatness in dance lies in that it elevates a person, if momentarily, completely from the earth, and brings him that much closer to Heaven.

Seven Hakofos in Seven Shuls
by Devora Halpern

"A colorfully robed matron in the upstairs gallery threw down a long silk scarf; the men took hold of it and spun each other around with it."

A Prayer for an Esrog
by Y. Fried

Zeidy Sholomo's grandchildren never showed much interest in the traditional Tu Bishvat seuda that he held in his home. Year after year, as `their' Rosh Hashona descended upon the trees and the wing flutterings of the new spring rebirth mingled with the intoxicating aroma of green growth hit the almond tree which was always in a rush to blossom first -- the young grandchildren would rush off to Zeidy Shlomo, full of mirth and joie de vivre, light hearted, light footed, unburdened with the travails of the adult world, to Zeidy's old and comfy house.

Without Pity
by A. Yacobson

The prickly grass tickled his feet as if attempting to bring a smile to his tightly closed lips, but nothing could make him smile. The experience only made him set his mouth even more firmly, expressing total apathy. Apathy by definition is a total lack of interest, an absence of reaction, yet those who experience it know that it is the toughest attitude in the world.

The Book that Carries Us
by Varda Branfman

"More powerful than any medicine to relieve pain and more effective than any drug to carry us on a wave of euphoria..."

Maintenance Highs and Lows
by Rosally Saltsman

A new, educated and realistic look at New Year Resolutions -- High Maintenance Behavior Modification

The Tzaddik in our Building
by Helene Scholnick

In our building lives a tzaddik and his family.

The image one usually has of a tzaddik is of an older Torah scholar. His appearance testifies to his complete devotion to Hashem. His face, framed by a long, flowing white beard, radiates wisdom. His eyes shine with pious devotion.

Handling Teasing -- Part I
by Masha Wolf
Child therapist, consultant, play group therapist

Many children become victims of serious teasing at one time or another during their childhood. Some children are affected more deeply by teasing than others and often, as a result of their sensitivities, they may be more prone to become scapegoats. Several things can be done to help a child who is suffering from teasing.

Your Medical Questions Answered!
by Joseph B. Leibman, MD

What does a pediatric urologist do? In adults they almost always deal with problems in men, but in kids, there are different problems. First, urinary tract infections under the age of five require investigation for a problem called reflux when urine goes the wrong way up towards the kidney from the bladder. This could lead to kidney failure and sometimes needs to be corrected surgically.

Priceless Integrity
by Rabbi Travis
Reviewed by Mrs. Debbie Shapira

To say that someone is an ehrlicher Yid means that he is a Jew whose standards of honesty are irreproachable and can be trusted implicitly. Sadly, in the world today, falsehood and corruption have so distorted our outlook that it is almost impossible to define true honesty. Rabbi Travis, in his new sefer, Priceless Integrity, addresses this issue and, in a highly readable way, clarifies the obligations of a Torah- true Jew.

Pathways to Personal Growth: Seventeen Letters from an Older Brother
A book for teenage boys, their parents and their rebbes

Teenage boys face a wide range of unique challenges, beginning around bar mitzvah age. Since many of these challenges are very private in nature they cannot be dealt with in the ordinary educational framework. Many parents are also uncertain how best to deal with these issues. This situation poses a serious threat to the young man's spiritual future. Failure to handle these challenges correctly, even if unintentional, can lead to a more general decline both in morals and self-esteem.

Poet's Corner

To Toddle

by Rifca Goldberg

His small body toddles,
From side to side he waddles,
He carries on -- fearless,
He thinks his struggle peerless.

Then he falls -- disaster!
The tears come faster and faster.
I wipe his cheeks and give a hug,
Small foot impressions in the rug.

Another, another fall,
He's not hindered, not at all.
Soon walking solid and so sure,
His eyes shiny. Happy. Pure.

But then I wonder on my world,
On each challenge, on each hurl.
Do my steps contain such purity,
Tackling each challenge with such surety?

Am I hindered with each trial,
Not knowing if it's all worthwhile?
When I fall, or fail, in life
In being daughter, mother, wife?

Do I remember what it's for?
That it is the KING we stand before?
Knowing that my step, each one
Is strengthened from the Holy One?

I can only hope and pray
As I keep trying day by day
To see my efforts and imprints unfurl
With positivity in this world.

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Joys of Motherhood

by A. Reader

My baby wakes up and he cries,
My baby wakes up and he screams,
Is he cold? Is he wet? Is he teething?
Or is he just having bad dreams?

I jump out of bed in a hurry,
I don't want my husband to hear,
He gets up so early each morning,
And needs his few hours, poor Dear.

I pick up this pitiful bundle,
Who's screaming so loudly. I wince,
What ails you, my precious, my darling?
My gorgeous, my beautiful prince?

Here, sweetheart, I'll feed you, and change you
Then rock you quite gently to sleep,
You'll go in your crib and sleep tightly,
No whimpers or cries. Not a peep.

But Baby has other intentions,
He gurgles and plays with his fist,
He's up now for ever and ever,
He likes it, the way he gets kissed.

He's fine now, my tired mind tells me,
He's back in his crib. Now I'll go.
He tells me quite firmly he wants me,
Puts on this expression of woe.

So what can I do with this darling,
This monster, this spoiled little brat?
Come on then, and join me as usual,
In my bed for the night, and that's that!